This story takes place in Scandinavia in the early 800's. Where Viking ships scour the seas, and where great lords reside in their golden halls. Our tale begins with one Viking longship commanded by a warrior named Volund the Fearless, sailing the coasts of Norway.
"My lord," called Agni the watchman of the ship, "I can just see large palisade walls on top of the fjords. There might be a village there."
Volund stepped down to his watchman and stared at the wooden palisade walls.
"That's Ranolfsgard alright, we will steer into the nearest beach and meet with their lord," commanded Volund.
The village Volund seeks is at war with another strong neighboring lord. Volund and his men wish to help this rich lord, for they would be paid handsomely and glory would be theirs.
Volund's ship, Sea Wolf, landed onto a cove not too far from the village. As the men filed out of the Sea Wolf a mounted warrior with a long spear rode down to meet them. Volund stepped up to meet the unknown warrior.
"Who are you strangers and state your business," demanded the rider. "If you are another band of pirates you will recieve no warm welcome."
Volund responded, "My name is Volund Ragnarsson the Fearless, my men come in peace. We have heard of the blood feud your king has been set upon, we wish to serve your lord in this conflict." Volund said this proudly.
The rider replied pleasantly, "Mercenary warriors are welcomed to our Lord Halfdane. My name is Svein, commander of Lord Halfdane's household warriors, welcome to Ranolfsgard."
Svein then motioned for the warriors to follow. They then treaded up a dirt path which led to Ranolfsgard. As the group neared the village Volund noticed that many of the farmers crops were failing and that even some mills and storehouses had been reduced to rubble. When they approached the Ranolfsgard gate Svein called out and the gate was opened. The band warriors entered the village. The village smelled like rotten food and piss but as they neared the great hall the warriors noses filled with the aromas of salted pork, onions, and mead.
Svein dismounted and ordered to Volund, "Wait here, I shall inform Halfdane of you." Svein then opened the doors of the great hall and strided proudly in.
The doors then opened after awhile and a guard motioned that they could enter. Volund and his men entered into the great hall.
The hall was filled with detailed tapestries showing dragons, monsters, and great battles. There were also golden carvings in the wooden columns and walls. Volund sauntered slowly to the lord's throne, admiring the awe inspiring art. A weathered old man with ash grey hair was seated before the warriors. By his looks you could tell he was once a great warrior and a handsome man but battle scars and wrinkles had defiled that long ago.
"Welcome to my great hall, Volund the Fearless," bellowed Lord Halfdane. "I have heard of your exploits in other lands, they say you are a great warrior and have bravery beyond compare. I would be honored for you to help me in this little war. If they siege us I would not be afraid to meet them outside our walls with you on our side."
Volund bowed and said, " I am honored as well, Great Lord Halfdane. Many a skalds poem have I heard with your name strung into its words. Halfdane the Dragonslayer. Halfdane the Conquerer. Halfdane the Great, I am honored and glad to be accepted in your residence."
And so, Volund and his men were guests in the hall of Halfdane.
As the warriors resided in Ranolfsgard there came many reports, from scouts, of groups of warriors coming in on each side of the village. The movements of the enemy warriors suggested that the groups would come in as one army in front of Ranolfsgard.
Then, one starry night the movements of the troops proved right. The numerous warbands came together into one huge army. The warriors of Ranolfsgard scurried about readying for battle. Volund and his brave men sang an old Danish war ballad as they sharpened their swords, heaved their great shields, and lifted their golden helms.
Volund's shield was painted with his own banner, a black raven. His helm was decorated with vines at the cheek-plates and a carving of a battle with a dragon at the forehead of his helm. Volund also wore a Frankish coat of mail and boots with metal plates attached to his shins, to prevent blows to his legs in shield wall warfare.
Volund walked up to Svein and asked, "How many men does the enemy have?"
"Judging by the torches over yonder, about 700 able bodied warriors. We currently have 400," Svein responded gruffly.
"Those men? Down there? Warriors?" Agni laughed, " Those lame excuses for "warriors" will die before they hit the ground!"
Svein looked away in disgust for Agni's breath had a strong
stench of alcohol and he also smelled like a pig sty.
Later, the army of Ranolfsgard marched out to meet the enemy head on out side the palisade walls. The two armies formed long shield walls. The enemy shield wall was much longer so they could easily out flank Halfdane's men giving them a great advantage. Volund planned to charge the enemy after the volley arrows to have them distracted and stunned as they charged.
Both armies then let out ear splitting battle cries and banged their swords against their shields. Then, the archers, on top of the villages walls, sent out flaming arrows at the enemy shield wall. Cries of agony and pain were heard as the razor sharp arrows picked off many warriors. Volund then ordered in a great shout to charge the enemy! The army of Ranolfsgard then charged at the opposing shield wall!
The two shield walls collided into each other creating a huge boom! The warriors hacked and slashed at each other trying to break the opponents shield or to find an opening and kill the opposing warrior. Volund had already killed three men. He fought with such skill and precision you would think he was dancing. His sword sung as it slashed through armor and bone.
As Volund advanced onto a warrior in the fourth line of the shield wall he realized that that warrior had to be a man of importance. For the enemy warriors helm was ringed with gold and his shield was made of strong pine and painted red with a wolf's head in black. Volund charged his shield against the warrior's own shield and thrusted at the warrior's arm. Volund's cut was deep and even punctured through the man's chain mail for Volund's sword, named Fafnir's Fang, was forged in Asgard's deep dungeons and was named after the infamous dragon, Fafnir. The enemy man shouted in pain. He screamed insults at Volund as their shields pushed against each other. Volund replied by calling the warrior the son of a goat- loving whore.
But then, Volund thought of an idea to defeat his foe. Volund waited until his opponent gave a big push and when the warrior did Volund immediately took a few steps back. The warrior then stumbled and fell to his knees as his shield struck air. As soon as the enemy warrior had exposed himself, Volund slashed at the warrior's neck and lopped off his head.
Volund himself had weakened the enemy army greatly as he continued to slay more and more men. He had made a huge gap in the shield wall, which gave the other warriors a chance to outflank and kill the enemy from the sides or behind. At this point many opposing warriors were already fleeing the battlefield.
The remaining men in front of Volund cowered in fear of the great warrior.
"Anyone else!" yelled Volund tauntingly.
The enemy warriors backed up slightly for fear of making the pile of bodies around Volund higher. Some of the smart remaining swordsmen, realizing they had been defeated greatly, dropped their weapons and ran behind them as fast as they could. Svein was motioning his hand to signal the archers to shoot but Volund intervened, "No, let them run and spread fear among their people. Word of their defeat will maybe run wild through out the lands."
It had been a massacre... and Volund had won it.